Leaning back in the filthy steer chair, Autumn realized the hard way that interrogation rooms looked nothing like they did on television. Dark, dirty, and stuffy, she felt like she was already in a jail cell.

She looked up as the door opened and in stepped Detective Tim Kitch, a man she'd known less than two hours but hated with all her might. "Ms. Levine." He said casually, sitting down across from and lying a folder on the table, raking a hand through his reddish-blonde hair, "I'm a straight to the point guy, so here goes--whose blood is soaking your bed, and why?"

She stared, unmoving, inwardly laughing at his stupidity.

"Did you kill a man?"

No, I saved a man. She thought, but said nothing. Had the evidence team not found the used bandages and medical equipment in the trash? This guy was an idiot.

Kitch cocked his head to the side, staring at her, "Or were you, maybe, harboring a criminal?"

A cold-blooded killer. She allowed herself to smile cockily, but remained silent. This was funny, despite her very un-humorous situation.

"You smug little bitch, answer my questions or I swear to God, I'll arrest you for potentially harboring a criminal, and if proven guilty, you'll..."

"Also be charged as an accessory to his crimes, yeah yeah, I know!" She shook her head, "I don't have to answer anything. I know my rights. I don't want a lawyer, I want to go home!"

He continued to stare at her, his face red, his nostrils flaring. He could do and say whatever he wanted, but she wasn't giving up on Sylar. She couldn't. Something about him had struck something deep within her, and she planned to keep everything she'd learned buried away from these leeches, for his safety. She couldn't figure out what it was about him or why, and right now, she really didn't have time to evaluate.

The door opened, startling her, and in walked officer Michael Clark, "Detective--her sister's here."

Autumn's eyes widened, "I said not to contact anyone!"

"Too bad." Kitch replied simply, walking out of the room, and Autumn resisted to urge to tackle him to the ground before he reached the door and suck every last breath from his lungs. Then again, she probably couldn't stand being that close to him.

---

"What the hell has she done? Why the hell--harboring a criminal?! I mean...!"

Peter suppressed a smile as he watched her pace, then he stood up, slipping an arm around her shoulders to both still and calm her, "Hey, hey, calm down, okay? It's probably just a big misunderstanding."

Melony shook her head, leaning into him, thankful for the relief, "God, I hope so. This is the last thing either one of us needs right now."

Smiling softly, Peter lead her over to the chairs and they both took a seat. "You want me to get you a coffee, or something to snack on?" He asked, "Cheese danish, maybe? I know a great little vending machine right around that corner there." He grinned.

Melony laughed softly and shook her head, "No, I can't. Thank you though. But I have to find out what's going on."

At that moment, a tall, redheaded, smug looking man in a cheap suit with a badge hooked on his belt look strode up, "Melony Levine?"

She shot up out of the chair, "Yes?"

"I'm Detective Tim Kitch." He looked at Peter, "Is this your husband?"

"What? No!" Melony shook her head, "He's a friend of the family. Now, where is my sister?"

"Your sister's in interrogation. She's rejected a lawyer, and is refusing to cooperate with us."

Melony sighed, "Explain all this to me. How did she get here in the first place?"

Kitch explained everything, from the nosy neighbor to the bloody sheets, and even what sewer maintence found.

"A blood trail. Leading all the way from Kirby Plaza to your house." Kitch shook his head, "Whoever this person is, it's a wonder they're still alive."

Melony continued to converse with the detective, but Peter heard nothing but the pounding of his heart.

Kirby Plaza...His mind flashed back to nearly a week ago. After the battle with Sylar, he and Nathan had blown up, but he knew for a fact that Hiro Nakamura had killed Sylar with the sword. Hadn't he?

Peter stood up, "Excuse me--do you have any idea as to who it was that you suspect Autumn was harboring?"

Kitch shrugged, "A few leads, but nothing definitive. We're not entirely sure they were a criminal, but based on the facts that they bailed and she's not talkin'...I mean, do the math. May even be someone she's partners with."

"No!" Melony growled, "No, my sister is a psychologist! She works in a hospital. She is not a criminal. She's never been in trouble, not in her life! Now when the hell do you plan on letting her go?"

"Whenever she decides to tell me something useful." Kitch was cold as ice, not having any sympathy despite Melony's clear worry and agitation. Peter would've given anything to hit him.

"Thank you, Detective!" Peter snapped coldly, making it known he wanted the detective gone, as he defiantly slipped an arm around Melony, "Come on--Nathan can help us. He has a whole team of lawyers at his disposal."

Melony sighed, walking beside him as he lead her down the hall, "Yeah, I thought of that, but...I don't want to ask him for a favor. Not this early in my position."

"Mel, Nathan's a good guy. He'll consider it a personal favor--he won't take it out on you professionally." Looking around nervously, Peter leaned closer to her, lowering his voice, "Listen, I think I know who it is your sister was helping."

"What? How?!" She stared up at him, eyes wide with disbelief, "Peter, how...?"

"I can't explain everything right now, but if it's the man I think it is, he is dangerous, and you're going to have to protect yourself and your sister at all costs. Do you understand?"

She nodded silently, staring up at him. Her sister was smarter than this. Was it even possible for her sister to endanger both their lives this way? If so, and if Peter knew who it was Autumn had risked everything for....

"You go call Nathan and explain what's going on." Peter placed a hand on her shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts, "I'm gonna go call someone myself. Someone who can help. He'll know what to do if this is...what I think it is."

She nodded in understanding and watched him walk away, before pulling out her cell phone and dialing Nathan's home in Connecticut.

---

Mohinder Suresh sat in a pub in Boston, nursing a double scotch and glancing at his watch every other second.

After the events in Kirby Plaza, Mohinder had quietly dove back into his work, his fathers work. Seaching for people with the gene had lead him up and down the East coast, and now finally he'd settled in Boston, of all places. With Sylar out of the way, Mohinder could uncover as many specials as he could, without worrying for their safety.

His cell phone rang, and he had to dig through his messenger bag to find it. He flipped it open and pressed it to his ear, "Suresh."

Mohinder smiled at the voice, but a part of him was worried by the tone, "Peter! What a surprise! How are you?"

"I was good, 'til now." Peter sighed into the phone, "I have some bad news...I think."

Mohinder raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean, you think?"

Peter explained the situation--something about a woman named Melony Levine and her sister, and how the sister was in trouble for potentially harboring a criminal. Mohinder didn't understand why this was so urgent, until Peter's next words made his blood run cold.

"I think it was Sylar. I think...Mohinder, I think he's still ailve."

Mohinder was quiet. Speechless. He felt his world, the world he was slowly building back up, bigger than it had been before, come toppling down again.

Mohinder shook his head to clear his mind, "Yes, Peter. I'm still here." He cleared his throat nervously, "Where are you?"

"Are you still living at the same address?"

"Alright, I'll be there later tonight. Peter, keep the Levine sisters safe. If it is Sylar..."

"You're welcome." Mohinder hung up the phone, leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and prayed. Prayed that it wasn't Sylar. That Peter and the sisters and the entire world would be safe.

Prayed that Sylar was dead, and forgotten.

---

A choking, coughing fit overcame him as he finally stopped running, collapsing in the darkness of the alleyway. The adrenaline and fear in his system had allowed him to bypass the pain and run for the sake of his life, but now it was all wearing off. The pain in his torso combined with his unending weariness was beginning to take a toll on him.

He had to get out of there. But how? And where would he go?

And Autumn. She knew who he was--what he was. Would she tell everyone, or would she stay quiet? Would he have to go back and kill her? As cold as he was, as power-hungry, he wasn't sure he could bring himself to kill her. Well, okay, he could bring himself to...but would he want to? She had shown him compassion. She had saved his life. She hadn't screamed or run away when he showed his ability. She had accepted him without question, or fear.

Her ability was astounding. 'Breathtaking' He thought with a shuddering laugh, coughing again.

No. He wouldn't kill her. Not right now. But he had to know if she'd said anything.

Sylar waited until nightfall before slithering out of the shadows.